Immersion apparatus



Jun? 18, 1940- J. scHAPPl 2,204,775

IMMERSION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 8. 1938 5 @eats-Sheet 1 Filed sept. 8, lesa 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jlme 18, 1940. 1 scHApPl 2,204,775

IIHERSION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 8. 1938 5 She'es-Sheet 3 J. SCHAPPI IIIIERSION (APPARATUS.

Filed Sep1 8. 1938 June 18, 1940.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 faz/672,527@ k/oV/a 5c/lacy) L' lef-M g/a June 18, 1940. J, scHAPPl IMMERsIoN APPARATUS Filed Sept. 8, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Juno 1.8, 1940 UNITED STATES I A 2,204,775 IMMEBSION APPARATUS John Schappi, Ithaca, N. Y., assignor to Morse Chain Company, Ithaca, N. Y., a corporation o! New York Application September 8, 1938, Serial No. 228,956

10 Claims.

This invention relates to immersion apparatus, and has as its primary object to provide lan apparatus of relatively compact arrangement for the automatic handling oi' articles to be treated in a bath, including lowering the articles into the bath, passing them through the bath, lifting them out of the bath, and discharging them.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which the time out of the bath it maintained at a minimum with relation to the time in the bath. In a cyaniding process, for example, where the bath is maintained at a relatively high temperature, it is desirable that the time interval between removal of the articles from the bath and discharge of the articles into a quenching bath, be maintained at a minimum to minimize the cooling of the articles prior to quenching. To this end, the invention contemplates an arrangement wherein the bath is circular and the article conveying baskets are adapted to travel in a roughly circular orbit.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the type specified, wherein maximum accuracy of control over the movements of the baskets, may be maintained. This also is made possible by the arrangement wherein the bath is circular and the basket handling units are mounted for movement in a fixed circular orbit. More specifically, the invention aims to provide, in such an apparatus, relatively simple, yet fully automatic and accurately controlled baskethandling mechanism for lifting the baskets in uniformly timed succession, out of the bath, shaking them to remove excess liquid, indexing or advancing them to a discharge station and inverting them to discharge their contents, vibrating them while inverted to dislodge any adhering articles, restoring themto upright position and advancing them to a loading station, advancing them to the bath and plunging them therein, and thence conveying them through the bath to the point of removal.

A further object is to provide for stopping the baskets at each of the stations above-mentioned during rest periods allowing for completion of the shaking, discharging and loading operations, prolonging the immersion in the bath/ of those baskets that are not in the discharging or loading stages of operation. To this end, the baskethandling mechanism is operated by an intermittent drivey which provides alternating periods of advance d dwell.

Anoth object is to provide an apparatus of the type \speciiied, in which such dwell periods may be variably extended to meet therequirements of various types of immersion processes to which the apparatus may be adapted. To this end, the invention provides means for declutching the basket-handling apparatus and intermittent drive mechanism from the prime mover at the end of at least some of the dwell periods, for an interval the duration of which may be'adjusted. By employing such an arrangement, the length of time consumed in theindexing operations, such as' the removal of the basket from the bath and conveying it to the discharge station, may be maintained constant while the extent of immersion in the bath is varied, and, as a result, the duration of indexing operations may at all times be maintained at a minimum. As stated before, the attainment of this result is an important object of the invention.

Other objects, the advantages and uses of the invention will become apparent after reading the following speciiication and claims, and after consideration of the drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of

a cyaniding apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partially broken away, and in section, of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the transmission ofthe apparatus, taken as indicated by the line l3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the transmission, taken as indicated by the line 4 4 of Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional View of the transmission, taken as indicated by the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation, partially brokenv away, of one of the basket handling units and associated mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional View oi.' the same, taken as indicated by the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a schematic view illustrating several positions of the basket handling units; and

Fig. 9 is a schematic view showing the electrical circuit of the apparatus.

As illustrative of one form in which the inveny the bath and removing them therefrom, basket handling apparatus D for giving the proper movement to the baskets C, a transmission E for transmitting power to and controlling the operation of the basket handling mechanism D, a prime mover F for developing the power, a quench tank G (Fig. 2) for receiving and cooling the articles which have been heated by passage through the bath, and charging apparatus H for loading the baskets C with predetermined quantities of the articles to be treated.

The basket handling apparatus D is adapted to carry the baskets C in an orbit which is generally circular and horizontal. 'I'he tankA is constructed in the form of a major segment of a circle, arranged to register with a major portion of the basket orbit, the space between its ends being just sumcient to accommodate the quench tank G and the frame uprights I between which the charging mechanism H is mounted.

'I'he tank A preferably includes an outer casing II of insulating material and a lining I2 of refractory material adapted to withstand the action of the hot cyaniding solution. As demanded by conventional cyaniding practice, the bath B is heated to a fairly high temperature, and the insulating casing II, in cooperation with a cover I3, which covers a major portion of the tank, minimizes the escape of heat from the tank. The heating of the bath is accomplished by conventional heating units which may be arranged at intervals around the circumference of the tank. Since they form no part of the present invention, they have not been illustrated.

Each of the baskets C is carried by an individual basket handling unit J forming part of the mechanism D. The units J are fixedly mounted on a rotatable support I4 in the form of a spider having a central hub I5 and a plurality of radiating arms I6 to the ends of which the casings I1 of the units J are secured, as at I8. The hub I5 of the spider is secured upon a shaft I9, the lower end of which is journalled in a pedestal supported end thrust bearing 20. On a. platform 2i, carried by the upper ends of the frame uprights I0, is supported the housing 22 of the transmission E, into which the upper end of the shaft I9 projects.

Rotation of the spider I4, transmitted to it through the shaft I3, causes the basket handling units J to move through an orbit concentric with the tank A. The baskets C are thereby moved through an orbit roughly corresponding to that of the unit J, but including vertical movements in which they are lifted from the bath B as they near the end of the tank, are shaken so as to remove excess solution clinging to them and to the articles therein, are inverted to discharge the articles into the quench tank G, are restored to upright position for receiving fresh charges from the charging apparatus H, and are plunged into the tank at the beginning thereof, thenceforth to pursue a strictly circular horizontal path until they again reach the end of the tank. All of these vertical movements are transmitted to the baskets C by the basket handling unit J, under the control of a drum cam 23 mounted on a tubular shaft 24, the latter being telescoped over the shaft IS and projecting into the transmission housing 22.

The vertical movements are produced by relative circumferential movement of the basket handling units and the cam 23, in some of which the cam is stationary and the basket handling units advance relative to the cam, in others of which the basket-handling units are stationary and the caml oscillates, and in others of which both cam and basket-handling units move simultaneously.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and '1, each of the basket handling units J comprises the casing I1, secured to the end of an arm I6, as hereinbefore noted, and carrying a horizontal shaft 25 on a projecting end of which is secured a basket elevating arm 26. In the free end of the arm 26 is swingingly mounted a crank rod 21 which car- Iries the basket C. Journalled in bearings 28 above the shaft 25 is a shaft 29 to which is secured a gear segment 30 meshing with a pinion 3I secured to the shaft 25. To a projecting end of the shaft 29 is secured a cam follower arm 32 on the free end of which is rotatably mounted a cam follower roller 33 engaging in the cam groove 34 of the cam 23. When the follower arm 32 is forced downwardly as a result of movement of its roller 33 along a descending flight of the cam.23, the gear segment 30 will rotate the pinion 3| so as to swing the arm 26 upwardly in a counter-clockwise direction as indicated by the arrows 31 in Fig. 8.

The basket-handling mechanism has an intermittent advancing movement, making eight stops in one complete revolution. The stations at which these stops are made are indicated in Fig. 2 at L, M, N, O, P, Q, R and S, respectively. The stations P, Q, R and S will be referred to as timing stations for the reason that at those stations the period of rest of the basket is longer than at the intermediate stations L, M, N and O. Mechanism is provided for indexing or advancing the basket-handling mechanism intermittently from one station to the next. Such mechanism comprises a Geneva movement, which also times the period of rest of the baskets at the stations L, M, N and O. To the periods of rest thus determined by the indexing mechanism there is added, at the timing stations P, Q, R and S, a variable interval of time by means of which the total length of time that the baskets are immersed in the bath, may be adjusted to suit the requirements of the particular operation to which the apparatus is adapted.

It may be noted briey at this point that the removal of the basket from the bath and the shaking of the excess liquid therefrom is performed at the station O, the discharge of the, contents of the basket occurs at the station S. the basket is loaded with a fresh charge of articles to be treated at the station L, and is plunged back into the bath at the station P.

The cam supporting tubular shaft 24 is Journalled at its upper end in a bearing 40 formed in the bottom wall of the transmission housing 22, and has secured to its upper end, just above the bearing 40, an arm 4I forming part of linkage for transmitting oscillating movement to the shaft 24.

Referring now to Fig. 4, oscillating movement is developed by a bell crank lever 42 pivoted on a stud 43, flxedly mounted in the transmission housing 22, and a cam 44 having an undulating groove 45 which is followed by a roller 46 carried by one end of the bell crank lever 42. The oscillating movement thus developed is transmitted by a link 41 pivoted to the other end of the bell crank leve 42 and to the end of the arm 4I.

The cam 44, together with a gear 48, to which it is secured, are rotatably mounted on a stud 49 which is mounted in the transmission housing 22. Rotation is transmitted to the gear 4I by a gear 5l, rotatably mounted on a shaft 5I which 75 is journailed inbearings l2 in the upper and lower walls of the transmission housing 22 (see F138. 4 and 5). The gear I8 is driven by a pinion I8' which is secured to a shaft I4 :lournalled in bearings II in the'upper and lower walls of the transmission housing 22. The shaft 54 serves as a. common driving shaft for driving the oscillator cam *i4 through the gearing which has just been described, and for driving the Geneva movement.

The gear train to the Geneva movement includes a gear 58, secured to the shaft 54, and a gear 31 which, together with the "Geneva crank 58 to which it is secured, is rotatably mounted on the stud 49. The gear 51 and crank 58 may be supported in any suitable manner, such as [or example,` by a washer 59 and a pin 68 extending through thestud 49.

'Ihe spider supporting shaft I9 is journalled in a bearing 6| in the top wall of the transmission housing 22. Secured on the shaft I9 just below the bearing 6I is a Geneva wheel 62.

The Geneva" movement includes the Geneva wheel 62 which has radial slots 63 to receive the crank 4pin 64 of the Geneva crank 58, and upstanding pins 65 adapted to coact with the dwell portion 66 of the Geneva crank 58.

The ratio of drive from the pinion 53 to the gear 58 is one-half that of the gear 56 to the gear 51, so that the Geneva crank 58 will be rotated twice as fast as the cam 44, and two complete steps of Geneva operation, each including an advancing period, when the crank pin 64 is in engagement with and advancing the Geneva wheel 62, and a dwell period, when thedwell portion 66 is in engagement with a pin 65 and thereby holding the Geneva wheel 62 stationary, will occur during each revolution of the cam 44.

The angular distance between two of the notches 63 of the Geneva wheel is 45 degrees. One complete rotation of the cam 44 will therefore be accompanied by the indexing of the basket-carrying spider I6 through a 90 degree stage of movement comprising two\steps of advance of 45 degrees each, from one to the next of the four timing stations P, Q, R and S.

During each such stage of movement, one series of oscillations of the cam 23 will occur as a result of the complete rotation of the cam 44. This series of oscillations occurs during one of the dwell periods of the Geneva movement. The oscillations are produced by the undulated portion |49 of the cam groove 45.

The oscillation of the drum cam 23 is timed to occur when the follower roller 33 is under the control of the first descending flight |45 of the cam groove 34. The basket-handling unit being stationary, the oscillation of the cam 23 willv cause the follower arm 32 to be oscillated up and down so as to move the b'asket elevating arm 26 correspondingly down and up, thereby shaking the basket C, which has just previously been removed from the bath, so as to shake oft the excess cyanide. solution. The limits of such oscillating movement of the arm 32 are indicated in dotted lines at 61 in Fig. 8.

While it is being lifted out of the bath and over the end of the tank, the basket C remains pendant. In order to discharge the articles therefrom, I provide means for causing the bas-A To this end, the arm 26 includes a hollow` casing 18 in which is housed an endless chain 80 serving to gear together a sprocket 8| secured to the shaft portion 18 of the crank 21, and a Sprocket 82 which is secured to or formed integrally withA a sleeve 83, coaxial with the shaft 2l. The sleeve 83 extends'into the casing I1 oi.' the basket-handling unit J, and carries at its inner end a crank arm 84.

Pivoted, at 85, to the outer end of the crank arm 84, is a pawl 86 having at one end a hook 81' adapted to engage in a notch 88 in a cam 88 which is secured to the shaft 28. The notch 88 is so positioned that the cam 89 will simply ride against the hook 81 of the pawl 8 8 while the elevating arm 26 swings from its lowermost position shown in Fig. 6 to its uppermost position projecting' vertically upwardly, at which time the hook 81 will enter the notch 88, and the cam 89 will, during the remainder of its oscillation, carry the pawl 86 along with it, thereby causing the crank arm 84, the sleeve 83, the sprocket 82, the chain 80, the sprocket 8|, and the crank 21, all to move as a rigid unit with the elevating arm 26, until the dumping position 11 shown in Fig. 8, is reached.

The hook 81 is forcibly caused to enter the notch 88, by means of a rising portion 90 on the cam 89, arranged to engage a roller 9| when the notch 88 arrives opposite the hook 81. The roller 9| is journalled in the end of an arm 92 formed integrally with the pawl 86 and projecting on the other side of the pivot 85, so that as the roller 9| is moved outwardly, the hook 81 will be moved inwardly.

To assure the hook 81 remaining in engagement with the notch 88 during the return movement from the dumping position 11 to the loading position, the pawl 86 is provided with a heel portion 93 which is adapted to ride against the inner surface of an annular cam 94 fixed in the casing I1. A notch 95 in the cam 94 receives the heel portion 93 when the pawl 86 is in its rest position shown in Fig. 6, so as to allow the hook 81 to become disengaged from the notch 88.

It may be noted in passing, with reference to the basket-handling unit J, that the sleeve 83 is journalled in a bearing 68 in the casing I1, and in turn carries a bearing 69 in which one end of the shaft 25 is journalled, the other end of the shaft 25 being journalled in a bearing 18 in the cover 1| of the casing I1.

When the basket-handling unit is at the discharge station S, the inner end of the arm 26 will rest directly above a magnetic vibrator K which is secured to the inner end of the quench tank G. The vibrator K serves to vibrate the basket so as to dislodge any of the articles that might be clinging to the surface thereof. The vibratorK is shown in Fig. 8.

The drive mechanism includes the motor F, driving through a. chain and sprocket 96 to a clutch shaft 91 journalled in bearings on the platform 2|. A magnetic clutch 98 connects the clutch shaft 91 to a chain and sprocket drive 99 which vtransfers the drive to a drive shaft |80.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the drive shaft |00, journalled in bearings on the end wall of the transmission housing 22, extends into the housing 22 and carries at its inner end a beveled pinion III meshing with a beveled gear |02 on the shaft 54.

When a basket-handling unitreaches the loading position, the elevating arm 26 will be in a vertically upstanding position, and the basket C will have returned from its inverted dumping position to the pendant position as shown in Fig. 1.

The loading mechanism comprises generally an electromagnet |43 adapted to pick up a definite quantity of articles from a loading hopper |84 and to transfer them to a loading chute |85 through which they are delivered to the basket C that is at the loading station. The electromagnet |83 is carried by a plunger |85 which is vertically slidable in a swinging arm |81 so as to have a combination ot lateral swinging movement and vertical reciprocating movement, enabling it to swing over the hopper |04, move downwardly into the hopper to pick up a load of articles, return upwardly to a level above the vloading chute |85 and thence swing laterally over the latter to drop its contents therein. The mechanism for giving these movements to the electromagnet, the details of which form no part of the present invention, has not been illustrated.

The electro-magnet |83 is energized by a suitable electrical circuit adapted to be interrupted so as to allow the magnet to be deenergized to release its load.

As hereinbefore indicated, in each stage o! operation of the apparatus, the basket-handlingy mechanism stops alternately at the index stations L, M, N and O, and the timing stations P, Q, R and S. The index stops are so timed that the timed rest period at the timing stations forms an extension of the Geneva dwell period at those stations.

The timed rest periods of the basket-handling units at the timing stations, P, Q, R and S are provided for by disengagement of the mangetic clutch 98 under the control ofelectrical timing mechanism which comes into operation just prior to completion of the Geneva dwell periods. Upon the upper end of the shaft 5| (Fig. 5) are mounted four cams |88, |89, |||l and respectively, which control the four timing switches H2, ||3, ||4 and ||5, respectively, diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 9. These switches may be housed in a casing ||5 formed on the top of the transmission housing 22. The clutch 88 is energized by direct current supplied from a source ||1 to the clutch circuit including wires H8, ||9 and |20, and a relay switch |2| which connects the wires ||9 and |28. The relay switch |2| is normally held closed by a magnetic coil |22 which is energized by a relay circuit including wires |23, |24, |25 and ||8, the clutch relay timing switch ||3, and the source of direct current I1.

Shortly prior to the completion of a Geneva dwell period at the timing stations, the switch ||3 opens so as to deenergize the coil |22 and allow the relay switch |2| to open in response to the pull of a conventional spring |28' incorporated therein. Thereupon, the clutch will be released, starting the running of a timed rest period forming a continuation of the dwell period.

The length of the timing period is controlled by the adjustable timer, indicated generally at W in Fig. 9.

Simultaneously with or just prior to the opening of the clutch relay switch ||3, the timer motor switch I|2 has closed, establishing the timer circuit which includes a source of alternating current |25, a timer motor |21, a timer switch |28, controlled by the motor |21, and having contacts |38 and |3|, the switch ||2, and the wires |32, |33, |34 and |35. Simultaneously there is energized a magnet |29, shunted across the motor |21 and switch |28, which controls the engagement of a clutch (not shown) connecting the motor |21 in driving relation to the switch |28. At the moment of energization, the switch |28 will be standing in a position substantially at 180 degrees from that shown in Fig. 9. The motor |21 will rotate the switch from this position to the position shown in Fig. 9, as indicated by'the arrows. whereupon the circuit through the motor |21 will be broken while the the magnet |29 remains energized, maintaining the stalled motor |21 clutched to the switch |28, and thereby holding the latter in its open position shown.

When the switch |28 arrives at its opening position, a relay initiator switch |38, operated in unison with the switch |28 by the motor |21, will bridge its contacts |31 and |38, shunted across the relay switch |2|, thereby temporarily closing the clutch circuit, was broken. The closing of the switch |36 causes the clutch 98 to become reengaged, whereupon the shaft 5| will commence to rotate and the switch ||3 will close. Thereupon, the relay switch |2| will close, and the circuit through the clutch 98 will thereby be maintained until the shaft 5| has completed a revolution. During this revolution of the shaft 5|, after the switch I|3 has closed, the switch ||2 will open, thereby deenergizing the magnet |29, and consequently disconnecting the motor |21 from the switch |28. The switch |28 will now oscillate back to its starting position under the urge of appropriate means, such as a spring.

As the shaft 5| completes its revolution, the switch ||3 will be brought back to its open vposition. During this revolution of the shaft 5|, the basket handling mechanism will make two index stops, completing one stage of operation of the apparatus.

Adjustment of the timing period of the timer W may be eiected by varying the angular relation of the switch |35 with reference to the switch |28, whereby the length ofthe rest period extension may be varied at will.

The switch ||4 controls the energization of the vibrator K through the vibrator circuit which includes the switch, the vibrator, the source ol.' alternating current |25, and the wires |35 and |39, |48, |4| and |26.

The switch I5 controls the energization ofthe loading magnet |03 through the magnetic circuit, including the magnet, the switch, the source of direct current ||1, and the wires ||8, |42, |43 and |44.

'I'he operation of the apparatus can best be understood by tracing the orbit of movement of a basket through a complete cycle of 360. For this purpose, we will follow the basket which has 'just arrived at the station O shown in Fig. 2. Indexing of the basket-handling mechanism to this position, produced by the operation of the Geneva crank 58, rotating clockwise, against the Geneva wheel 62, has just been completed, the pin 84 of the crank 58 being at the point of leaving a slot 83 of the Geneva wheel 52, as shown in Fig. 2. The basket is still immersed in the bath, as indicated ln Fig. 8. The follower roller 33 of the elevating arm 26 has just arrived at the beginning of the rst descending flight |45 of the groove 34 of the drum cam 23. The control cam 44, rotating clockwise, as indicated by the arrow |45 in Fig. 4, is commencing to move the follower roller away, the roller being acted upon by a rising flight |41 of the cam groove 45. This results in counter-clockwise movement of the bell crank lever 42, as indicated by the arrow |48. This movement of the lever 42 is transmitted through the link 41, the arm 4|, and the shaft 24, to the drum cam 23. causing the latter to likewise move in a counter-clockwise direction as indicated by the 5 the basket from the bath. During the ensuing 240 degrees ofrotation of the Geneva crank 63, (the Geneva dwell period), the basket-handling spider will remain stationary, the control cam 44 will rotate 120 degrees, and the two undulations l |49 thereof will act upon the roller 46 so as to l thus imparted to the ladle serves to remove excess cyanide solution therefrom. In order that the basket may be maintained above the surface of the bath during this shaking movement, the undulations |49 remain at a greater distance from the center of the cam 44 than the low point of the flight |41.

At the completion of the second shake, the crank pin 64 will enter the next slot 63 of the Geneva wheel 62, and indexing of the basket handling unit to the discharge station S will therefore begin. The combined action of the indexing and drum motions now raises the elevating arm 26 to a vertical position, the basket remaining pendant until the vertical position is 30 reached, at which point Vthe roller 33 arrives at the horizontal dwell |50 ofthe cam groove 34, as shown in Fig. 8. At this point, the latch mechanism locks the elevating arm and basket crank together, the dwell |50 allowing the ele- .'l vating arm 26 to slow down momentarily so as to facilitate the latching action. The latchingin position, which occurs intermediate the stations O and S, is indicated at X in Fig. 8.

From this point, the basket moves as a rigid 4Q unit with the arm 26, the rotation of the arm 26 in a counter-clockwise direction continuing as a result of the travel of the roller 33 down the second downward flight |5| of the cam groove 34. During this movement, the drum is 45 slowly revolved in the same direction as the direction of movement of the basket handling unit, as a result of the travel of the roller 46 in the descending flight |52 of the control cam 44, until the drum has been returned to the position 50 that it occupied just prior to the removal of the basket from the bath. This slows down the rotation of the elevator arm and basket until the latter approaches the discharge position. From this point to the completely inverted position |55 at station S, the inverting movement is accelerated so as to secure a quick dumping action. This acceleration is produced by reversing the movement of the drum cam and shifting it fairly rapidly in the counter-clockwise direction, as a result 00 of the movement of the roller 46 in the rising flight |54 of the control cam 4.

This begins another dwell period of the4 Geneva movement during which the roller 33 remains in the bottom dwell portion |55 of the 65 cam groove 34, the basket consequently remains stationary in the inverted position at station S, and vibration is transmitted to it from the vibrator K. This loosens any links that may have adhered to the basket, and causes them to be 70 discharged into the quench tank G, together with those that were dumped as a result of the inverting of the basket. During this rest period, the drum cam moves slowly in a counter-clockwise direction, without effecting the basket-handling unit, the dwell portion |55 taking care of such movement. As the crank pin I4 approaches the next slot 63 of the Geneva wheel on its second rotation, the timing mechanism will become operative as hereinbefore described, to release the clutch 98 and cause the Geneva movement, the control cam, and the basket-handling mechanism to remain at rest until the end of the timing period has been reached. 'I'he clutch will then be reengaged, the crank pin 64 will again commence to move, and shortly thereafter, the basket-handling mechanism will commence the next indexing movement which takes it to the loading station L.

During the movement from the station S to the station L, the follower roller 33 will travel up the rising flight |56 of the cam groove 34, causing the elevator arm to return in a clockwise direction, bringing the basket back to the horizontal loading position L shown in Fig. 8. During this movement, the drum is slowly brought back l5 degrees in the clockwise direction so as to be in the proper position for lifting out and shaking the next basket, which is approaching the station O as the basket which we are following approaches the loading station L.

When the loading station L is reached. one stage of movement of the basket around its orbit, involving one index stop and one timing stop, will have been completed.

During the rest at station L, which is an index stop, the chargingmechanism will be operated to load the drum with fresh parts to be cyanided. At the same time, the drum cam will be oscillated for lifting out and shaking the following basket at station O, but such movement of the drum will not affect the basket at the loading station for the reason that the follower roller 33 will be engaged in a dwell portion |51 of the cam groove 34, and will therefore not be affected. l

At the completion of this dwell period, the Geneva movement will again become operative to index the basket handling unit from the loading station L to the plunge station P. During this movement, the follower roller`33 will travel up the second rising flight |58 of the cam groove 34, and the combined motion of the drum and the spider will cause the arm 26 to move slowly in a counter-clockwise direction until it reaches a position just above the surface ofthe bath.

At this point, another dwell period in the Geneva movement begins, during which period the drum cam moves slowly in a counter-clockwise direction as a result of the movement of the roller 46 in the slowly rising portion |59 of the control cam groove 45 and a basket will be thereby allowed to slowly settle into the solution, the roller 33 during this interval travelling in the final rising flight |60 of the drum cam groove 34.

Near the end of this dwell period, the timing mechanism releases the clutch 98 for the second timed rest at station P, during which timed rest the basket at station P, as well as the baskets at stations Q and R, will be immersed in the bath.

The subsequent indexing to the station M, completes the second I,stage of operation. During this interval, the follower roller 46 will travel down the descending flight |6| of the control cam 44, thereby returning the drum cam to its starting position.

From the rising flightl |60 around to the descending portion |45, the drum cam groove 34 remains horizontal, thereby maintaining the .basket in the immersed position for the remainder of its orbit, i. e., for the full length of the tank A. Since there are three timing stations at which the basket remains immersed, the total adjustme'nt of immersion time is three times the adjustment of the timer W.

By employing the circularly shaped bath, it becomes possible to employ a rigid mounting S for the basket-handling units, thus increasing the accuracy of basket control. Conveyor chains are done away with. The ends of the .tank may lbe brought together so as to leave Just sumcient space for the accommodation of the quench tank and loading apparatus, and the period of time during which the baskets remain out of the bath is reduced to a minimum.

The combination of a timed rest period coinciding with an index rest period makes it possible to adjust the length of time the articles remain in the bath without effecting the time occupied in the various indexing motions. It is highly desirable that these motions be set at a fixed rate, determined by inertia of the various moving parts and of the articles being handled. It makes it possible to set the timing period of the indexing motions at a maximum so as to reduce to a minimum the cooling of the parts during the transition from the bath to the discharge station.

I find that the combination of Geneva movement and drum oscillating control cam, driven from a common source of power, is a very convenient and satisfactory mechanism for correlating the movements of the drum cam and the basket-handling spider so as to accomplish the results specified.

I claim:

1. In an immersion apparatus, an article-holding basket, a cam follower associated with said basket, a rotatable support on which said basket is carried in a generally circular orbit around a substantially vertical axis, a tank providing a bath registering with a portion of said orbit, a cam member disposed concentric with said axis, having a horizontal dwell adapted to coact with said follower'so as to maintain Said basket immersed in said bath, and an inclined flight adapted to coact with said follower so as to cause said basket to be raised from said bath, and means for oscillating said cam member so as to impart vertical shaking movement to the basketl when subject to the control of said inclined flight, without affecting the basket when it is subject to the control of said dwell.

2. In an immersion apparatus, a plurality of article-holding baskets, a cam follower associated with each basket, a rotatable support on which said baskets are carried in a generally circular orbit around a substantially vertical axis, a tank providing a bath registering with a portion of said orbit, a cam member disposed concentric with said axis, having a horizontal dwell adapted to coact with said follower so as to maintain said baskets immersed in said bath and an inclined flight adapted to coact with said follower so as to cause said baskets to be raised from said bath, and means for oscillating said cam member so as to impart vertical shaking movement to a basket subject to the control of said inclined fiight, without affecting a basket that is subject to the control of said dwell.

3. In an immersion apparatus, an article-holding basket, a basket-handling unit carrying said basket, a support on which said unit is mounted for movement in a generally horizontal path, a. cam member generally parallel to said path, said unit comprising an elevating arm mounted for swinging about a horizontal pivot at one end, a crank pivoted to the other end of said arm for swinging movement around a horizontal axis, the basket' being xed to the free end of said crank, a cam follower coacting with said cam member for imparting vertical movement to said elevating arm during one stage of each cycle of movement of a unit, and means adapted during a portion of such stage to cause said crank to move as a unit with the elevating arm so as to invert said basket and discharge its contents, said means being adapted at other times to allow said crank to freely depend from said elevating arm.

4. In an immersion apparatus, an article holding basket, a basket-handling unit carrying said basket, a support on which said unit is mounted for movement in a generally horizontal path, a cam member parallel to said path. said unit comprising an elevating arm, a horizontal shaft on which said arm is secured, said shaft being oscillatable so as to swing said arm vertically, a crank pivoted to the free end of the arm for swinging movement around a horizontal axis, the basket being fixed to the free end of said crank, a cam follower coacting with said cam member for imparting vertical movement to said elevating arm during one stage of each cycle of movement, a sleeve rotatable on said shaft, a sprocket and chain drive connection between said sleeve and said crank, and means for coupling said sleeve to said shaft at an advanced stage of elevation of said arm, whereby to cause the crank to move as a imit with the arm and thereby invert the basket and discharge the contents thereof.

5. In an immersion apparatus, a plurality of article-holding baskets, basket-handling mechanism including a support on which the baskets are carried in a generally horizontal path, a cam follower associated with each basket, a cam member having an inclined flight adapted to coact with a follower for elevating a basket during one parting back and forth movement to the cam member during a portion of said stage, whereby to impart shaking movement to the basket during elevation thereof.

6. An immersion apparatus as defined in claim '7, wherein said means for intermittently rotating the support comprises a "Geneva movement mechanism, and said means for oscillating the cam member comprises cam mechanism timed to become operative when the Geneva movement is inoperative.

7. In an immersion apparatus, an article-holding basket, rotary basket-handling mechanism including a rotatable support on which the basket is carried in a generally horizontal circular orbit, a cam follower associated with said basket, a cam member having an inclined flight adapted to coact with said follower for elevating a basket during one stage of its cycle of orbital movement, means for rotating the support intermittently in successive stages of advancing movement separated by dwell periods at least some of which are timed to occur while the basket is under the control of said inclined flight, and means for producing relative oscillation between the cam member and the support during the latter dwell periods, whereby to impart shaking movement to the basket.

8. An immersion apparatus as defined in claim '7, wherein said means for rotating the support comprises a shaft to which the support is fixed, a Geneva /wheel secured to said shaft, a Geneva driver cooperating with said Geneva stage of its cycle of movement, and means for imwheel, and gearing for transmitting rotation to said driver; and wherein said means for producing relative oscillating movement comprises a second shaft, telescopically arranged with reference to said iirst mentioned shaft, said cam member being attached to said second shaft, cam mechanism for imparting oscillation to said second shaft. and a second train of gears for actuating said cam mechanism at half the speed of said Geneva" driver. whereby said oscillating movement will occur during alternate periods oi' rest.

9. In an immersion apparatus, an article-holding basket, rotary basket-handling mechanism including a rotatable support on which the basket is carried in a generally horizontal orbit, means for rotating the support intermittently in successive stages oi' advancing movement separated by dwell periods, said means including a Geneva movement and means for transmitting power thereto, said transmitting means including a magnetic clutch, means for normally energizing said clutch, means for interrupting the ow of energy to said clutch at approximately the end of one oi said dwell periods. a time limit switch adapted to be energized at approximately the time of interruption of energy flow to said clutch, to operate during a variable interval of prolongation of such dwell period beyond its normal limit determined by the operation o! the "Geneva movement, and to reestablish the flow of energy to said clutch at the end of such interval.

10. In an immersion apparatus, an articleholding basket. basket-handling mechanism rotatable about 'a substantially vertical axis for carrying said basket in a generally circular and substantially horizontal orbit, a segmentary circular tank registering with a major portion of said orbit and having ends that approach each other and are spaced apart, means for causing said basket to travel within the confines of the tank from one end thereof to the other, elevating the basket, inverting it for discharging its contents. and returning it to an upright position for loading, and means below the discharge position of the basket for receiving the articles discharged therefrom, said means projecting into the space between the ends of the tank.

'JOHN SCHAPPI.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,20lh775. l June 18, 191:0.

Joan scHAPPI.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page l1., aecc ond column, line 15, after the word and comma "'circuit, insert --the switch 115 having remained open since che clutch circuitn; and that the'aaid Lettera Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 17th day of september, A. D. 191m.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) f Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

